Chapter 103: Desperation Leap

The S.H.I.E.L.D. shuttle was on its way to the Sandbox, a S.H.I.E.L.D. research facility in Africa, carrying the contaminated helmet and a precious load of equipment. The atmosphere was charged with tension after the discovery that Simmons had been infected by the alien virus. Coulson watched the team with a worried expression, aware of the gravity of the situation.

Simmons was running a self-diagnosis with a portable device, and his expression was growing darker. Fitz was at his side, desperately trying to find a solution.

— "Estimated lifespan: two hours," Simmons informed, his voice shaking. "I need to be realistic. The virus is very aggressive and we are out of time."

Fitz was immersed in his calculations and experiments, but his efforts so far were not yielding results. The team was three hours from dry land and halfway to their destination, over the Atlantic Ocean.

At S.H.I.E.L.D.'s command center, Agent Felix Blake received Coulson's message about the critical situation. He didn't hesitate to give a decisive order over the emergency comm.

— "Coulson, the situation is critical. I order you to throw Simmons off the plane before she puts everyone at risk," Blake ordered, his voice firm and unquestioning.

Coulson, hearing the order, hesitated.

— "Negative, Blake. I will not let Simmons die without trying to save her life. We are working on an antidote, and I will do everything in my power to find a solution."

Blake, clearly frustrated, responded with a veiled threat.

— "If you continue to disobey orders, you and your team may face severe consequences. The safety of the team is the priority."

Meanwhile, Simmons and Fitz were in a frenzy in the makeshift laboratory inside the shuttle. Fitz was testing the antidote on rats, but the results were disastrous. Each test ended with the death of the small animals.

— "This isn't working, Fitz," Simmons said, her face pale. "I have no hope left."

Fitz looked at Simmons with a look of desperation and determination. They were running out of time.

— "We haven't given up yet. We'll keep trying. If we don't find a solution, we won't have a chance to save you or the others."

Simmons, feeling the progression of the virus and realizing the desperate situation, made a painful decision.

— "I don't want to be the cause of anyone else's death," she said, her voice breaking. "I'm going to open the cargo door and jump in. That's the best I can do."

She stood up and headed for the cargo door, but Fitz tried to stop her.

— "Jemma, please don't do this. We're almost there!"

Simmons, however, was resolute and headed for the cargo door compartment.

Ward, who was on another floor of the shuttle, heard the sound of the cargo door opening and immediately understood what was happening. Without thinking, he jumped from the second floor and ran to the cargo bay.

— "Simmons, no!" Ward shouted as he ran. He found Fitz with the antidote in his hands and a parachute.

— "I'm going to need this," Ward said, grabbing the antidote and the parachute. "I'm going after her."

He launched himself from the cargo door, jumping into the void with the hope that the antidote would arrive in time. The sensation of freefall was overwhelming, but he focused on reaching Simmons before it was too late.

In the air, Ward managed to locate Simmons, who was starting to drift away. He activated the parachute and adjusted his trajectory to get closer to her. Using the antidote, he was able to reach her and apply the cure. Simmons, although still in critical condition, began to feel immediate relief.

— "Jemma, please hold on," Ward pleaded as he did his best to steady her.

The pair were rescued, and after landing, the S.H.I.E.L.D. rescue team did their best to ensure Simmons received immediate medical attention.

Back on the shuttle, Coulson and Agent Blake met for a tense discussion. Coulson was visibly angry and concerned about the situation.

"You don't understand, Blake. I wasn't going to risk the life of a member of my team without trying every alternative. The order was impossible to follow without dire consequences," Coulson stated, his tone thick with frustration.

Blake, however, was resolute and unwilling to listen to excuses.

"You ignored direct orders and put the entire team in danger," Blake said, his voice cold. "This cannot be tolerated. If you continue this behavior, you may very well lose your team."

Coulson, though frustrated, remained calm.

— "I did what I thought was right. And, as it happens, it worked. But let's leave that aside. The priority now is to ensure Simmons' recovery."

In the aftermath of the crisis, the team reflected on what had happened and how they could improve their procedures to prevent such situations in the future. Coulson continued to deal with the stress and consequences of his decisions as the team struggled to recover and move forward.

The S.H.I.E.L.D. team prepared to face new challenges, knowing that despite the hardships and risks, their mission to protect the world and each other was more important than ever.